SriVidya Patu Maam Sada
The Article narrates the establishment of the Sri Badari Shakaracharya Samasthanam temple in Sakatapuram by Sri Adi Sankaracharya, propagating six paths of worship. Sri Satyateertha Muni’s move to Sakatapuram due to Mughal invasion led to the discovery of a Sri Krishna idol in the Tunga river, and the founding the Jagadguru Sri Badari Sankaracharya Samsthana.…
Wish-Fulfilling Sakatapuram
Temple of Sri Badari Shakaracharya Samasthanam, Shakatapuram
Sri Adi Sankaracharya established the Shanmata – six paths of worship – Ganapatyam, Kaumaram, Saivam, Vaishnavam, Saktam and Souram.
He also created four Amnaya Peethas to propagate his teachings. Totakacharya, one of his favouritedisciples, was installed as the head of the Uttara Amnaya Jyotish Peetha in Badarikasrama.
Sri Satyateertha Muni heading the Mutt, during the latter half of the 13th century, shifted base from Badari Kshetram due to unrest caused by the Mughal invasion there. He reached Sakatapuram, a holy place that was mentioned by Bhagavan Sri Krishna to Arjuna in the Brahmanda Purana, the kshetram that had attained divinity by the penance of Sakata Maharishi.
He found an idol of Sri Krishna in the rushing waters of the Tunga during his daily ablutions. Installing it in a temple right there, Sri Satyateertha Muni established the Jagadguru Sri Badari SankaracharyaSamsthana – Sri Kshetra Sakatapuram – Sri Vidya Peetham.
Emperors of the Vijayanagar Dynasty patronized the Mutt by donating land and wealth, and were in turn abundantly blessed by the Acharyas. The 32ndAcharya, Sri Sri Ramachandrananda Teertha was verily known as a ‘Mantra Purusha’. In close touch with the Kanchi Mutt and Acharya, he performed innumerable Chandi yagnas. Devotees flocked to him for redressal of their troubles and for fulfillment of desires like marriage, career, good health, as also faith and freedom from worldly desires (bhakti and vairagya).
The sage established a branch Mutt at AgasthiarStreet, East Tambaram in 1962, with a temple for Sri Rajarajeswari. He travelled all over Tamil Nadu in 1950 and 1954, creating major spiritual impact wherever he went.
The present Acharya, Sri Sri VidyabhinavaKrishnananda Mahaswami is an ardent Sri Vidyopasaka. He has earned the honourific, by his intense 8 hour-long Sri Chakra puja, of ‘Sri Vidyopasaka’, ‘Sri Vidya Sadakottama’, and ‘Sri Vidya Sadaka Mukuta Mani’. He renovated the Sakatapuram temple and Mutt premises, thereby creating a marvelous edifice. He has created heaven on earth by the power of his tapas, which can be compared to the heaven that Viswamitra created for Maharaja Trisanku.
Sakatapuram is in Koppa Taluka of ChikmagalurDistrict of South Karnataka. The Tunga river runs to the east of the temple, the smooth granite steps leading to the Adhishthana of earlier Acharyas.
The temple faces West. Well laid out gardens welcome us on either side as we enter the premises through the grand Rajagopuram. Proceeding through the central pathway, and descending another flight of steps, we stand at the head of a vast quadrangle facing the imposing temple. The tall flag post and Garuda Mandapam take us to the Keerthi Mandapam, where two lion statues, with intricate workmanship seen in the rolling stone balls inside their wide-open mouths, stand like guardians of the gateway.
We enter the sacred temple through the beautifully carved doorway. The central shrine houses Sri Santana Venugopala Krishna, holding the flute and a ball of butter in his hands, peacock feather dancing in his locks, his divine smile tugging at our heart strings. Devotees offering butter on Ashtami are assured of begetting a child.
The shrine on the right is dedicated to the Goddess Mother Sri Vidya Rajarajeswari. In seated posture, she holds the sugarcane bow, five arrows, noose and goad (paasam and ankusam), her moon-like face and compassionate eyes bestowing devotees with abundant blessings. Her long braid decorated with flowers, stylishly resting on her lap, adds to her alluring beauty.
On the other side is the shrine for the majestic Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha, petite Mahalakshmi seated on his lap. Countless are the devotees who seek and obtain success in their endeavours and good health.
Episodes from the Krishna Avatara are depicted as panel sculptures all around the temple walls. Panels depicting Gajendra Moksham, Lord Siva’s PradoshaTandavam and Sri Adi Sankara’s Guru Paramaparaare seen on the rear wall. There is a separate shrine for Sri Adi Sankara behind the main shrines. Behind this is the temple for Saubhagya Lakshmi and Sri Gopala.
Yagas and yagnas performed in the Sri LokasankaraYagna Mandapa yield manifold benefits. Various havans take place here on a regular basis.
The annual Brahma Rathotsavam on Akshaya Tritiya, and ten day festival of Sri Krishna’s procession are a major attraction.